He had retired less than two months ago, at age 51.
Former Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin died on Wednesday in a road accident in northeastern Italy, near the city of Vicenza.
According to the newspapers Il Gazzettino and Il Giornale of Vicenza, the ex-rider died during a bike ride along the regional road 11 in Montebello Vicentino.
He was hit by a truck coming out of the nearby motorway junction.
The driver of the vehicle left, without it being known whether he noticed the shock or not.
Law enforcement is looking for him.
Davide Rebellin had completed a thirty-year professional career on the Tour of Veneto in October, competing in the jersey of the Work Service Marchiol Vega team, his last training.
The Transalpin won a monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2004, but also classics such as the Flèche Wallonne (2004, 2007, 2009), the Amstel Gold Race (2004) or the Clasica San Sebastian (1997).
He also won Paris-Nice in 2008.
Suspended then laundered
His name also remains associated with doping.
Tested positive for EPO Cera during the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he took the silver medal, he was cleared in 2015 by an Italian court due to procedural flaws.
He had been suspended for two years from 2009 to 2011.
His fate evokes that of his compatriot Michele Scarponi.
The 2011 Giro winner was killed in a traffic accident on his training routes in 2017.